The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to invest heavily in agriculture, saying the sector plays a pivotal role in economic development and poverty alleviation.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi. made the call in Abuja at the 31st Annual Development Forum of LAPO Group themed ‘Paradox of Poverty in a ‘Wealthy Nation’: Policy Issues and Perspectives’.
Abdullahi, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Cooperative and Farmers Welfare, Victor Oyegoke, noted that the extreme poverty in the country could only be addressed by a combination of policy and economic reforms, effective social protection initiatives, and frameworks for the socio-economic empowerment of the masses.
He said, “Agriculture is a fundamental pillar of our economy, vital for alleviating poverty, fostering growth, and ensuring food security. Despite the sector’s vast potential, we still face the significant challenges of which the cooperative sector has a critical role to play in delivering growth.
Nigeria has fertile land, abundant natural resources, and a youthful population. Yet, many still struggle with poverty and food insecurity. To tackle these issues effectively, we need a comprehensive approach aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
This agenda aims to revitalise the economy, promote inclusive growth, enhance the quality of life, and bring prosperity to all Nigerians. It emphasises the need for agricultural innovation and infrastructure investment, which can significantly boost productivity and sustainability”.
In his address, LAPO Head of Programme and Communications, Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen, disclosed that the microcredit has successfully disbursed over N1.4trn to small and medium-scale businesses as part of its contribution to eradicate poverty from Nigeria in the past 37 years.
Abhulimen identified beneficiaries of the microcredit as petty traders, farmers, entrepreneurs and small business owners they believed are contributing significantly to economic stimulation and national prosperity.
A former governor of Edo State and chairman of the occasion, John Odigie-Oyegun wondered how a country as endowed as Nigeria could still be wallowing in extreme poverty.
